Tag: Greek Islands

From last year – Thousands of refugees and other migrants have been trying to get into EU member Greece in the past week after Turkey declared that its previously guarded borders with Europe were open. Following months of threats, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last week that his country, which already houses more than… Continue reading Migrant Invasion of Europe Part 19

Clashes between Greek riot police and migrants attempting to cross the border from Turkey erupted anew Friday as European Union foreign ministers criticized Turkey for using migrants’ desperation “for political purposes.” Greek riot police used tear gas and a water cannon in the morning to drive back people trying to cross its land border with… Continue reading Migrant Invasion of Europe Part 18

The movement of migrants is part of a “mass, organised and coordinated operation” to destabilise Greece. Meanwhile, thousands of Greek-Americans have signed a letter to the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, telling him that Erdoğan “is weaponizing migrants who are not even from Syria in order to blackmail Europe. These are not the actions… Continue reading Migrant Invasion of Europe Part 17

As well as dispatching elite troops to the region, the President of Greece, Mitsotákis’ centre-right government also decided to extend the existing 12.5km razor-wire border fence, equipped with sonar systems and thermal sensors, by another 40km, officials said. New sections will be placed in areas believed to be “vulnerable” to passage along the Evros river… Continue reading Migrant Invasion of Europe Part 16

Greece’s decision to keep its borders shut to asylum seekers is widely supported among EU leaders, who fear a repeat of the 2015 migration crisis, when more than 1 million people arrived in Europe after the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, signalled that the doors were open to them. Austria’s chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, warned EU states… Continue reading Migrant Invasion of Europe Part 15

On his return from Moscow, Erdoğan signalled there was no change in policy. “Our gates are open. The refugees will go as far as they can,” Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency quoted him as saying. Turkey has also announced it is sending 1,000 special operations police to prevent Greek authorities from returning people who manage… Continue reading Migrant Invasion of Europe Part 14

The EU has told migrants in Turkey that Europe’s doors are closed as Greek and Turkish police fired teargas at their shared border amid growing tensions over the plight of Syria’s refugees. In a blunt message, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said: “Don’t go to the border. The border is not open. If… Continue reading Migrant Invasion of Europe Part 13

Since June 2015, an estimated $803 million in humanitarian aid has poured into Greece for hosting 60,000 refugees and migrants, making it the “most expensive humanitarian response in history” when broken down to cost per beneficiary. Greece was a corridor for those en route to wealthier European countries until March 2016, when a deal reached… Continue reading Migrant Invasion of Europe Part 12

In Europe, which has had wrenching debates over whether and how to accommodate refugees and migrants—more than 2.5 million applied for asylum in the EU in 2015 and 2016. In most cases, refugees and migrants who reach Europe are deported or indefinitely detained in camps, some of which operate more like prisons by severely restricting… Continue reading Migrant Invasion of Europe Part 11

Politicians have weighed in loudly. “Greeks shouldn’t have to adapt their way of life to accommodate immigrants,” Konstantinos Kyranakis roared from the backbenches of parliament, in a heated exchange over the Diavata cookout. The lawmaker, among the prime minister’s closest advisers, later doubled down and posted a picture on Facebook featuring himself and friends eating… Continue reading Migrant Invasion of Europe Part 10